Second Nine news executive leaves after cultural review

Nine’s Sydney news boss is leaving the business, making him the second major city news director to leave the company just weeks after the findings of a comprehensive review of the culture at the media conglomerate were made public.

Simon Hobbs, who has overseen Nine’s Sydney newsroom for 12 years, will leave on Friday. Hobbs’ deputy, Margie McLew, has assumed his role and responsibilities on an interim basis, effective immediately.

Nine’s Sydney director of news, Simon Hobbs will leave the business on Friday.

The news comes just days after Nine’s top Queensland news executive, Amanda Paterson, also left the business.

In separate emails to staff, Nine’s director of news, Fiona Dear, provided no explanation for either executive’s departure. Both exits follow last month’s publication of the bombshell review of Nine’s workplace culture, sparked by the departure of Dear’s predecessor, Darren Wick, this year. Wick was subject to historical complaints relating to his drunken and lecherous behaviour towards colleagues.

While this masthead does not suggest that Hobbs or Paterson’s departures are related directly to the review’s findings or subsequent complaints filed in relation to the review, they are the first major exits from Nine’s news and current affairs division since it revealed a culture of widespread bullying, abuses of power and sexual harassment.

The report found that 62 per cent of Nine’s broadcast employees had experienced or witnessed abuse of power or authority, while 57 per cent had suffered bullying, discrimination or harassment.

Two senior news executives at Nine have left shortly after its cultural review was released.Credit: Sam Mooy

Nine, owner of this masthead, is recruiting for news directors in three of its main markets, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, where Gareth Parker has been promoted within the company.

Dear told staff on Wednesday that Melbourne news director Hugh Nailon will take on additional responsibilities in the interim, including “overseeing and supporting the state news directors and the network desk”.

Paterson was considered a close ally of Wick, according to Nine colleagues, who declined to be named so they could speak openly about the newsroom’s culture. Hobbs began his career at Nine more than 30 years ago, returning to the television network several times.

Despite reports Paterson had since engaged legal representation, senior Nine sources speaking on condition of anonymity said the company had not yet been contacted by lawyers.

Another senior executive, also speaking anonymously, said no further senior departures from the news division were expected.

A spokesperson for Nine confirmed the latest exit, and reiterated that an internal and external recruitment process is now underway for news directors in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

Get the day’s breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy. Sign up to receive our Evening Edition newsletter.